davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
BARBARISM IN THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY.

The letting out of prisoners from the
penitentiaries of some of the Southern
states to contractors to abuse or kill al
their will is one of the most horrible
barbarities of the present age. There
has been an attempt of late to gloss
over this matter because no less per-
sons than members of Congress are
some of the guilty contractors. The
Augusta, Georgia, Chronicle recently
sent a reporter to a convict camp and
printed report of which this is a
specimen
Leaving the hospital the reporter
went into long barn, 80 by 20, divid-
ed into two compartments, and they
divided by a ten foot alley. The barn
would not be given as resting place
to beast that is priced by it's owner
as the rain or sun could easily gain adj
mission through the top and the open
ings in the sides so affected the house
that it gave no protection from the
weather. On looking into this place ii
was horrible to realize that common
wealth like the state of Georgia would
allow the offenders against her laws to
be kept in SO dirty and filthy place
as that in which the 80 cOnvicts at the
camp on the A. and X. railroad are
placed. Among the narrow aisles in
the barn smouldering fires were burn
ing, and on the beds sat the prisoners
All the cOnvicts were seen. They beg
ged that their names would not be
used, for they would be dashed if il
were known that they told of the treat
ment. They state that Capt. Starns
uses the lash freely. Several stated
that, overcome with the heat, they
stopped to rest; and were taken out
and whipped. Attention was called to
the cruel whipping of Chuck Cooper, a
mulatO about 25 years old, who was
quartered in the hospital. The report
er, without being noticed, repaired to
the hospital and, being assured that
the guards were not near at hand
Chuck Cooper disrObed himself and
showed huge scars left from the lash
the skin being badly lacerated. Re-
turning to the barn the reporter in
quired of Mr.. Smith the cause of the
filthy beds on which the cOnvicts slept
They were caked in dirt and as black
and as filthy as could be imagined. Mr.
Smith, the guard, admitted that the
blankets and bedding had not beer
washed for several months, although
Mr.. Shubrick had notified Capt. Starns
and he had promised two months. age
to have new straw put in the beds and
have them washed. ''It is sever
MONTHS" Smith said, "since we left the
brick yard, and the bedding has moi
been touched since.n
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
A "Murderer,, Meets His Victim.

One of the members of the Lowell
Grand Army posts had curious expe-
rience at the close of the late war,
which caused him to postpone his re-
turn to Lowell for years. His name is
Halsey, and when the war ended he
was released from a confederate prison.
He went to New Orleans, where he fell
in with another Lowell man named
Darnly. On the levee Darnly was ac-
cOsted by a six-foOter of the Louisiana
Tigers, and the two got into fight
about the merits of Northern and
Southern soldiery. They grappled
and the SOutherner got an advantage.
Halsey had not interfered, but when
the SOutherner drew a knife Halsey
seized stick from pile and aimed a
blow at the Southerner's head. Darn
ly just then managed to turn the
SOutherner on his back and Darnly re-
ceived the blow on the skull. He was
rendered insensible and it was some
time before he left the hospital. Hal
sey supposed he had killed his COM
paniOn. Greatly alarmed, he reached
the steamer, which was just leaving
the dock for New York. He was con-
siderably relieved when no officer ap-
preached the steamer to arrest him at
the landing in New York.
Halsey took another name and made
his way to a Western city. He did
we'll in business, but always felt an in
to return to Lowell. A few
days ago he did come back. While
standing at the corner of Merrimac
and Shattuck streets, Tuesday, he was
by a stranger, who asked
him if he was ever in New Orleans.
Halsey says he was sure he was to be
arrested. The stranger said he had
rather a strange story to tell about
that city. Much excited, Halsey in
quired if it was about Lowell soldier
killing his colnrade. The stranger
hesitated, bat finally said that there
was no killing, and then Halsey recog
nized him as the man whom for many
years he believed he had slain. The
reunion between the old veterans was
of the happiest nature.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
An Intimate Friend.
Detroit Free Press.
vas having his fortune told.

He was having his fortune told.
81 see," said the medium, contract
ing her eyebrows and turning heI
toes in, 81 see the name of John !"
eyes," said the sitter, indicating that
he had heard the name before.
"The name seems to have given you
deal of trouble"
''It has"
"This John is an intimate friend"
''That's sO," he said wonderingly.
"And often leads you to do things
you are sorry for"
"True: every word"
Ellis influence over you is bad"
"Right again."
"But you will have serious quar-
rel, when you will become estranged."
''I'm glad of that. Now spell out his
whole name"
The "meejum" opened one eye and
studied the face of the sitter. Then
she wrote some cabalistic words and
handed it to him in exchange for her
fee.
ado not read it until you are at
hOme," she said solemnly. at is your
friends whole name.n
When he reached home he lit the
gas and gravely examined the paper.
There he read in picket fence charac-
tiers the name of his ''friend :"
"Demi- John ~
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
just the Kind He Wanted.

A story told by the New Age at the
expense of a Kennebec horse buyer,
The Age says:
1t seems that Mr.. James Keegan had
bargained at Prince Edward Island for
a fine horse, the price to be $l75, and
was just about to hand over the money
when he remarked, "The halter goes
with the horse, of course; have none
with me-" The halter was an old one
worth, perhaps, forty cents, "Oh, no !"
replied the owner, eff you want the
halter, L want my pay for it," This
was too much for our genial friend
Keegan, and quoth he, elbow much
do you want for your old halter 2"
Seventy five CENTS" was the reply.
"All right" said Keegan. "Here's
your seventy-five cents that's just
such a halter as I've been looking for"
And as he passed over the change he
quietly took off the halter, put the
$l75 back into his pocket, stepped
into his buggy and rode away, leaving
the other man to lament the loss of a
good sale and to get home his bridle-
less horse as best he might.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
SQUIBS.

"There is tide in the affairs of men,
which, if not skilfully lodged at the
proper time, browns Them"
Librarian recording the condition of
"a book): "Page AZ hole (turns the
leaf, page AZ another hole"
Good Housekeeping says "AlcOhol
will clean silver" So it will, my boy,
so it will; it will clean it out.-[B Bur-
dette.
1t is true that doctors disagree, but
they don't disagree half SO much as
their medicines do Burlington Free
Press.
A lady had some goods sent home,
marked G. o. d. A little girl exclaim-
ed: 81 know what G. o. ID. means :
Call on dad"
A limited range.-Wife-Oh, doctor,
Benjamin seems to be wandering in his
mind Doctor (whO knows Benjamin)
Don't trouble about that-he can't
go far.
Emma-"That young Mr.. Noodle is
a queer fellow. He changes his mind
about every ten minutes" Clara-"He
does, does heq Well, he must get the
worst of the bargain"
"What's life-insurance z" asked one
boy of another. "Well, L s'pose,"
said his companion, sits concern
that keeps man poor all the time he's
alive so that he may die RICH"
An exchange says: "Mary, in the
poem MARY had little lamb is now
seventy years old and still hale and
hearty" The lamb, however, is dead.
We ate piece of it last week.
First bOrn--"I should like to go
abroad this summer, Pop, and see the
world" Fond Parent-"I do not OBJ
.ject to your seeing the world, but do
object, sir, to the worlds seeing YOU"
"We have no milk maid in these
prOsaic times" says writer. We
don't know where you get your milk
brother, but ours is made and don't
you forget it Burlington Free Press.
The man who goes to sleep on the
railroad track continues to get killed
in various parts of the country but
no man who will go to sleep on a track
is indispensable to the country's safety.
t Phil. Times.
A Chicago man says he never saw a
Cat with blue eyes, and offers $3.50 for
one. Cats with blue eyes may be
scarce, but if he wants score or two
of cats with yellow voices let him visi t
this town. NorristOwn Herald.
Some one threw a head of cabbage
at Ignatius Donnelly while he was
making speech once. He paused a
second and said: "Gentlemen, | only
asked for your ears; l don't care for
your heads ~ He was not bothered
any more during the remainder of his
speech.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
Two Hieroglyphic Writers.

Warrington letter to Fort Worth Gazette
In this correspondence last week an
amusing story was told of the difficulty
which certain official experiences in
trying to decipher his own writing. A
number of gentlemen were talking over
that story in front of the Elliot House
last evening when one of them said
"That reminds me of story which
Lot Morrill, once told me of his own
writing. 1t was at the time when Ma
jOr Dunn of the army was paying at
tentiOn to the senator's daughter. The
young people had come to an under
standing, but Miss Morrill, thought
papa's consent ought to be obtained
before they proceeded further. Major
Dunn wrote a nice letter to papa in
which he requested that the. future of
the young lady might be confded to
his care. Senator Morrill, could read
the signature but the rest of the letter
was worse than Greek to him. He di-
vined its contents, however, and at
once wrote a reply in which the desired
consent was given. Dunn took it to
his lady-lOvc with the remark: Here's
your fathers letter. what does he
say p eagerly inquired the young lady.
Il have been trying to find out ever
since L received it, was the answer,
fbut l can make nothing out of it,
Miss Morrill, tried to read the note, but
she, too, failed. Never mind said
the lover, I'VE will get married any
how And they were married. Mrs.
Dunn has both these letters framed.
She says there is not person on earth
who can read either of them"
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
Van Amburgh's Eye.

Van Amburgh, the famous lion tam
or, once told group of people in bar
room that he obtained his wonderful
power over animals by showing them
that he was not in the least afraid of
them and by keeping his eye steadily
on theirs. He continued: "I'll give
you an example of the power of my
eye-" Pointing to loutisb fellow who
was sitting opposite, Van Amburgh
said, "You see that fellOwT He's a
regular clown. I'll make him come
across the room to me, and | won't say
word to him." Sitting down, he fix
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
He Continues to skirmish.

The striking mania reached color
ed preacher in a town in Mississippi
the other day, and he arose before his
congregation and said: "Chill'n, I'ze
bin tryin, herd TO preach the gospel on
80 week, and Pze got discouraged.
You has either got to raise the salary
to three or Pze gwine to go out an
skirmish fur hogs an chickens long
wild de res of yOn an take my chances
of gwine to heaven" By unanimous
vote of the congregation it was decided
to continue the salary at 81 and let
him skirmish.-[ Arkansas Traveller.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18

ed his keen, steady eye on the man.
Presently the fellow strengthened him
self, gradually got up and came across
to Van Amburgh. When he got close
enough he drew back his arm and
struck the tanner tremendous blow
under the chin, knocking him clear
over the chair, with the remark !:
"YOu'll stare at me like that again,
won't you? ~
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18

knew they owed me anything; they
never lay awake o. nights thinking
how to scrimp household expenses to
get mother or me a present, like the
gals did. And yet when | was a-rais-
in 'em, | thought one boy was worth a
dozen gals .r-T Helen Wilman.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
Telegraph once.

Western Union and VT. International, No
Central St., Union Block, open from 100 a. m tai
p. IN. Sundays to 10 a m and TO p. m. And
at Ticket Office Railroad station open fr0E, a. IN
till O'Clock next morning
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18

Dominic Johnson-Now, / hopes
when de plate am passed round, dat
all de bredren and sistern dat have ex-
perienced 'ligion, will remember dat
dat kind of experience has to be paid
for just as well as any other.-[ Judge.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
ST.. Inhnshnrx Athenmnm,

Library and Reading RO0n,-Free to all. Opel
from A. N. to II NJ. from to p. M, and from
to f-2 Saturday evenings.
Art GalIeyv-open Tuesdays and Fridays.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
For CIergymem.

Neatly engraved Marriage Certificates for sale
at this office. Prices with envelope to match, 10
and 20 cents each, according TO quality. III oFaer-
ed by mail, send nothing larger than twocent-
stamps.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18

in one heap. 1t was a CHASTITY plum
dering and had the plunderers been
caught they would surely have been
lynched.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
Sc. bloomsbury Centre.
East 81. .Iohnshnrx.

CongregatiOnGL-Rev. Joel F. Whitney Sunday
school at 12.00. Wednesday evening meeting at
730
Aethodist.-supplied. Sunday services at Las
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18

An hour later, when the danger was
past, but fully realized, the grateful
passengers from both rescued trains
were forcing upon JOe's acceptance ;
generous gift hastily collected the
spontaneous expression of their admi-
ration of the boys pluck and of theil
thankfulness but his father held hin
back.
The Doctors shrewd eyes were de
cidedly moist as he asked for the third
time in his dry, characteristic way
viewing the purse as if it were a nat
ural curiosity:
"But what could he do with it
lad like him who has a father p
"Do with it 2" roared a wealthy far
ner from up country, who in cOmpan J
with his son, young physician, haG
attended the convention ''dO with it
Why, man alive let him buy peanuts
with it if there is nothing else he
wants more, but don't say a fellow
shan't give little thank offering fol
the savln' o. his life and his only sons
let alone there bein' several scores OF
us alive and whole, as might a-been
crushed to atoms, but for this young
hero o. yourn ~
The speech so loud at first ended in
a tremble. "Might as we'll give in,
gentleman eve couldn't rest in our
beds tonight if the boy went unre-
warded."
And the Doctor had to give in, be-
cause the people would have their way
and they went off leaving their gift in
JOe's hands.
That night, after recounting the
events of the day to his father, Joe
added: 81 suppose 1 can use some of
my present for bicycle, can't %
mo, my son." said DR.. Benner, lay
ing his hand on Joe's knee, "nO, my
boy, the bank will be the best place
for that at present. l hardly approx
ed that way of rewarding "a simple act
of humanity, but not wishing to wound
the feelings of any one waved my own
inclinations in the matter. But shall
buy you bicycle myself in day or
two, because L think-well-I think,
my boy, all things considered, you
have earned one. You lost your holt
day sport, but saved your honor as to
Then he added with his occasional
energy: "But L want to tell
you one thing, my child, Benjamin
Low was once before found sleeping at
his post. 1t was a long time ago, and
people began to feel assured he would
not be guilty of like infidelity second
time. But if in your youth You yield
to temptation of that kind, 1 doubt if
in your manhood you are either loyal
to duty, or possess so much as Thin
bleful of pluck. And l don't believe a
son of yours would own bicycle half
a hand high-remember that, my boy p
''And as to the use of faithfulness in
little things: Well, if you had let
Black Harry go without his shoe and
risked disappointing me tomorrow, it
Is doubtful whether you and father
would be talking safely and content
odly with each other tonight as we
are doing-extremelyd doubtful, Joe.o
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
Ethan Aliens Pluck.
Posutaey Correspondence in Troy Times.

POutt7ley Correspondence IN Troy Tunes.
While Ethan Allen was a prisoner
on his passage to England closely con-
fined to his cabin he discovered that a
pin or a wire that fastened one of his
handouts was broken. Extricating
the pieces with his teeth he was en-
abled to loosen the bolt and set one
hand at liberty, by the aid of which
and his teeth he soon had both at lib
erty, and he was not long in liberating
his feet. But fearing discovery might
lead to worse treatment, he replaced
his irons, bolts and pins before the ar
rival of his keeper. 1t soon became a
recreation for the General to take off
and put on his irons at pleasure. One
day the captain wishing to afford the
crew some merriment ordered that AL
len be brought on deck. Hoping to
brighten him the captain said "There
is probability that the ship will foun-
der; if so what will become of us,
especially you, Mr.. Allen, rebel
against the king 2" "Why," said AL
len, "that would be very much like
our dinner hour" "Why sop said
the captain, not rejecting that Allen
was allowed to come on deck only
when the captain went down into his
cabin to due. "Well, you see," an
swered Allen, "Pd DE on my way up
just as you would be going below"
This answer did not please the captain
and he began regular TRADE of abuse
against the American people. "in a
short time," said the captain, 'sall the
rebels will be in the same situation as
yourself" This was too much for AL
len, and, raising his hands to his teeth
he soOR snapped the bolts and pins,
took off his irons and threw them over
board, seized the panic-stricken cap
tain by the collar and threw him head
long upon the deck. Then turning to
the affrighted crew, he exclaimed in
voice of thunder, ''If am insulted
again during the voyage I'll sink the
ship and swim ashore This exploit
lad such an effect on the captain and
crew that no further insult was offered
to the General during the passage.
An old man said to me: any gals
never forget me. They married and
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18

An old man said to me: "My gals
never forget me. They married and
went away to their homes, and though
none of them were we'll do, yet not
one of them ever saw the time she
wouldn't steal dollar from her hns-
band to give to father or mother but
it isn't SO with the boys. They never
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
St. Johnsbury Post Office.
ST. Johnsbury Church Directory

| Adoent-Paddock Village. Rev. John Ward
Sabbath Services at 1890 a. m LAS and $3.50 p. m
m. Sunday, Tuesday and Friday evenings.
Baptist-Railroad Street. Corner Maple. Rev
e. L. sanford, Pastor. Preaching 1880 4. M. S
School IL NJ. Prayer meeting $50. Prayer meet
| ing Wednesday evening at 1880.
Free Baptst-Main Street. Corner Prospect
Rev. F. E. Dawson, pastor. Sabbath services 1890
AM, and $3.50 P. M: Sabbath School at IL NJ Prayer
meeting Wednesday evening at 1880.
Church of the Messidh-( Universalist.) Eastern
avenue, corner Cherry street. Rev. K. A. Hoyt
pastor. Sabbath services at las P. NJ, $50 P. NJ
Sabbath School at 1900 Wednesday evening
meeting at 1870.
Methodist-Central street. Rev. T. P. Frost
Pastor. Residence next to the Church: Sab
bath services at 1890 A. NJ and $3.50 P. M. Sabbath
School at IL 90. Wednesday evening meeting at
1880.
North CongregatiOnaI-Main street, corner OF
Church. Rev. Chas. M. Lamson. Pastor. Sabbath
services at 1880 A. NJ, and $50 P. N. Sabbath
School at las P. N. Wednesday evening meeting
at 7:30.
South CongrsgatiOnal-Main street. Rev. Ed
1890 A. M, and $3.50 P. N. Sabbath School at IL NJ.
Wednesday evening meeting at $780,
Presbyterian Ohurch-Eastern Avenue. Rev. w.
R. Laird, Pastor. sabbath services at 1880 a. m.
and $50 p. m. Sabbath school at IL m. Prayer
meeting Wednesday evening at 7:3O.
st. AndreWs-(EpiscoPal,) Main street, Rev
- - Rector Services ON Sundays at
1890 a. M, and p. m. Wednesdays at 1880 p. m.
Sunday School, at II m.
Roman OathoLc-Cherry Street. Rev. j. A.
BoissOnnault, Parish Priest. Mass and 10 a. m !;
Vespers and Benediction at p. IN. On the
second Sunday of the month service at $50 a. m,
and p. m. At Lyndonville same day at 1890 a. m.
z IL. @. A.-Meetings at one of the churches
Sunday mornings at $50. Young Mems meeting
Sunday at $50 p. m, at the hall of the Y. NJ. C.
A. on Eastern avenue. Building opposite Soldiers
Monument.
st. JOhnsbury Centre.
CongregationGL-Rev. N. w. Grover Pastor. Sun
day services at IL A. NJ, and 600 p. n. Sabbath
School at IL NJ. Wednesday evening meeting at
Z 30P.M.
Met4odist-Rev. T. TrovilIion, Pastor. Sunday
at IL NJ Thursday evening meeting at 100.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18

SO many wounded to take out OIL
the wreck as there had been four hours
before. But in the meantime the cOun-
try had been aroused. Help had come
and the dead were laid reverently
alongside of each other out in the corn
fields, there were ready hands to take
them into ChatswOrth. The full tale
of the dead cannot be told for days.
No sooner had the wreck occurred
than a scene of robbery began. Some
band of miscreants began plundering
the dead from this terrible accident,
taking even the shoes which covered
their feet. Who these wretcIies are is
not known. Whether they were a
band of pickpockets who accompanied
the train or some rObber gang who
were lurking in the vicinity cannot be
said. The horrible suspicion exists
and there are many who give it credit,
that the accident was deliberately
planned case of train wrecking; that
the bridge was set on fire by miscre-
ants who hoped to seize the oppOrtu-
nifty offered and the fact that the
bridge was so far consumed at the
time the train came along and the add
ed fact that the train was an hour and
half late are pointed out as evidence
of careful conspiracy. These fiends
in human form went into the cars
when the fire was burning fiercely un-
derneath and when the poor wretches
who were pinned there begged them
s'for Gods sake to help them out,v and
stripped them of their watches and
jeweIry and searched their pockets for
money. When the dead bodies were
laid out in the cornfields these hyenas
turned them over in their search for
yaluables. And that the plundering
was done by an organized gang was
proved by the fact that out in the corn
fields Is purses all empty were found